Chris Treadway: Musical, multimedia tribute to Gauguin in El Cerrito

Opera and art merge in "Bonjour M. Gauguin," a multimedia production from the West Edge Opera company that will be performed at 8 p.m. April 6 and 12, and 3 p.m. April 14 at the El Cerrito High School Performing Arts Center, 540 Ashbury Ave.

This will be the United States premiere of the tribute by Italian composer Fabrizio Carlone to post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin and the inner voice that guides him.

Yannis Adoniou of Kunst-Stoff Arts and West Edge Opera General Director Mark Streshinsky codirect the production, which stars Anders Froehlich as Gauguin and Shawnette Sulker as Gauguin's inner voice. The cast also includes Nicole Takesono, Keith Perry and Paul Murray, along with the Kunst-Stoff Dancers.

Accompanying the stage performers in the multimedia production, "Mary Chun conducts an ensemble of musicians from sfSound and video designer Jeremy Knight brings Gauguin's paintings to life through creative motion-video."

From the West Edge publicity: "With a title taken from one of Paul Gauguin's own paintings and a libretto using the original writings of Gauguin and his contemporaries, the painter participates in a probing self-study set to music. Composer Fabrizio Carlone's compelling portrait-through-time uses spoken text, melodrama, and operatic presentation, accompanied by a chamber instrumental group."

The work first premiered in Venice in 2005.

For tickets or more details visit www.westedgeopera,org or call 510-841-1903.

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: There are two Berkeley houses for sale at a bargain price of $1 each, which means there's a catch. The two-story brown shingle homes on Walnut Street are making way for Acheson Commons, a mixed-use residential/retail project that has been in the works for several years.

The project site contains three landmarks, but the 1905 duplex homes are not among them. That means the homes must either be relocated or demolished.

According to the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, "the seller will pay the costs of moving the structures to the buyer's site," and the buyer is obligated to provide property within the city limits that can "accommodate both structures in compliance with City of Berkeley zoning requirements" and "undertake all subsequent costs."

The other catch is that "Interested parties must demonstrate the ability to accept the structures on the new site by May 2013."

WEST COUNTY NOTES: Bangers & Grass, the local bluegrass ensemble led by Albany banjo master Bill Evans, will perform at 6:45 p.m. March 29 at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. The group has already been a hit at the Circus Pub in Kensington.

The Albany appearance will include wine and beer available from Solano Cellars and available child care for ages 3 to 12 on site. Admission is $10 at the door.

"Salute To The Legends Of KSFO" is the theme of the next Broadcast Legends luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. April 6 at Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto, 1919 Fourth St., Berkeley. The gathering will salute the station whose personalities were once household names in the Bay Area. Reservations and details: www.BroadcastLegends.com

If you have a two-wheeler just taking up space in the garage, the Dads Club at Harding Elementary School in El Cerrito would love to hear from you.

The club is collecting and refurbishing donated bicycles that it will sell at its third annual Harding ReCycle Used Bicycle Sale and Bicycle on May 11.

Bikes are repaired and then sold at the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the playground of the school at Fairmount and Ashbury avenues.

"We'll take any size bike in any almost condition (exceptions include heavily rusted or severely damaged bikes)," says the club. "We will gladly arrange to pick the bike up from you and give you a receipt for your tax deductible donation."

To arrange a donation or pickup of a bike contact Steve Zavestoski at zavestoski@gmail.com. For more details on the event visit http://bit.ly/10Bcoal.

The 48th annual West Contra Costa School District Student Art Exhibition is at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., through April 27. A reception with the student artists will be held from 5:30 to 7:40 p.m. April 19. Details: www.therac.org.

"The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in the red zone." The next showing in the Cerrito Classic film series is the 1980 comedy "Airplane!" at 7 p.m. April 11 at the Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, 10070 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito. The series is hosted by Friends of the Cerrito Theater.